ไทย
English
中國人
Phil Parkinson is thrilled to see two Wrexham players take part in this summer's World Cup.
For the first time in the club's history, Wrexham will have two players represented at a World Cup, after club captain Dom Hyam was named in Scotland's squad and fellow defender Liberato Cacace received a call-up from New Zealand. Only one Wrexham player had previously featured at a World Cup, when former defender Dennis Lawrence turned out for Trinidad and Tobago at the 2006 tournament held in Germany.
Hyam made only his third appearance for Scotland when he came on as a substitute in their weekend win over Curaçao, with the 30-year-old considered by many to be a surprising pick in the nation's 26-man roster. The seasoned center back made his international debut just three years ago and had to wait until March of this year for his second cap, when he started a friendly against Côte d'Ivoire.
"I attended that match, and I believe that performance did Dom a great deal of good in terms of how he played," Parkinson told The Leader. "I'm absolutely delighted for Dom. Being part of a World Cup is something special. I know Dom was really determined to earn his place in the squad, and his displays for us have more than justified that.
"Dom has been an exceptional signing. He's a true leader, a fantastic person, and very dependable in everything he does. He's had a tremendous impact on us. Several senior players departed this season, and now it's up to others to step up and fill that senior role in the dressing room. Dom has done that brilliantly for us."
World Cup Previews
All 48 Teams
Bespoke Illustrations
Cacace's inclusion came as less of a surprise, given that he has accumulated 35 senior international caps since making his debut eight years ago. His spot in the squad was only in question due to fitness concerns following an injury-plagued debut season in North Wales, which limited him to just a handful of appearances across all competitions.
Parkinson added: "Libby is a slightly different case to Dom because he was always going to feature in the New Zealand squad. He's had a frustrating campaign with us, but at the same time, it's a wonderful opportunity for him to represent his country at a World Cup, and we'll all be watching closely.
"Having two players at the World Cup is a real source of excitement for all of us. It's a shame for the Welsh lads because they came so close, and we could have had another three players there. But it will bring some added interest for our fans, who will now get the chance to watch two of our own competing on the world stage."
Wrexham Set for World Cup Windfall
Every club that releases players for the World Cup is entitled to compensation during the period those players are away at the tournament, through the FIFA Club Benefits Programme.
Each affected club receives an equal "per player, per day" rate, determined by the total number of days all players spend at the competition. The daily participation rate is then multiplied by the number of days each player is involved, covering the window from 10 days before their nation's opening fixture through the day after their final game.
While the exact daily rate for the 2026 World Cup won't be confirmed until all tournament squads are finalised, past tournaments offer a helpful reference point. For the 2018 World Cup, $209 million was distributed across 416 clubs, working out to approximately $8,530 per player per day. For the 2022 World Cup, the same $209 million was divided among 440 clubs, pushing the daily rate up to around $10,950 per player per day.
Using the 2022 rate as a reference, Wrexham would be guaranteed a minimum payout of $470,850 if both Cacace and Hyam were knocked out in the group stage. That total would comprise $240,900 for Cacace's projected 22-day involvement and $229,950 for Hyam's estimated 21-day stay at the tournament.
Should either player help his nation progress to the Round of 32, Wrexham could pocket an additional payment of up to $65,700 per player.